Please note: this event has been cancelled due to inclement weather conditions

Join the Village Community Boathouse for Community Rowing in traditional Whitehall gigs, captained by experienced New York Harbor coxswains (captains).

The Village Community Boathouse offers free community rowing on Sundays starting at noon and on Tuesdays starting 5:30 p.m., through November 12, 2017.

Community rowing is free and open to all; no experience or reservations necessary.

As temperatures on the water are generally cooler than on land, please dress accordingly, especially if you are not planning to actively row. We are providing lifejackets for free.

About Free Community Rowing
The Community Rows are free sessions that include a basic introduction to rowing for first timers (safety orientation, rowing technique, and terminology) and of course plenty of actual rowing on the Hudson River. The rows take place in five-person wooden rowboats that Village Community Boathouse builds onsite. The rows last, depending on river conditions and rower level experience, between one and three hours.Most of these rows have mixed crews with those that have never been on the river before and some old hands. Visit the Village Community Boathouse's website for more information and photos!

Open Run is a community-based, volunteer-led running initiative bringing free weekly runs and walks to local neighborhood parks, across all five boroughs of NYC. All runs are directed by volunteers and are free to all participants. The finish line is open until the last person is done. The courses vary based on the park, but the courses are between 2.5 and 3 miles long.

Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the run and to leave their valuables at home – bag check is not provided. No need to do anything before the run, just show up. Open to all ages, experience levels, walkers, strollers, dogs: All are welcome!

This program is in coordination with NYC Parks' Community Parks Initiative.

Open Run is a community-based, volunteer-led running initiative bringing free weekly runs and walks to local neighborhood parks, across all five boroughs of NYC. All runs are directed by volunteers and are free to all participants. The finish line is open until the last person is done. The courses vary based on the park, but the courses are between 2.5 and 3 miles long.

Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the run and to leave their valuables at home – bag check is not provided. No need to do anything before the run, just show up. Open to all ages, experience levels, walkers, strollers, dogs: All are welcome!

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play wheelchair basketball and know the rules inside and out? Well, here's your chance to learn from the best! Come out and scrimmage against other wheelchair basketball players from the NYC area. With the help of the Brooklyn Nets Wheelchair Basketball Team, it's guaranteed to be tons of fun and you'll come back every week for more action!

Join us for free fitness walks in Mornngside Park led by exercise consultant Nancy Bruning. The sessions will include a variety of exercises that use park features such as stairs, benches, and retaining walls to work every muscle group.

With a hint of dark humor, Zane York transforms traditional floral still lives and familiar scenes into unexpected compositions in Nature Morte. Clusters of insects morph into floral arrangements, and cats in the clutches of pigeons rise to the heavens. Executed in the style and skill of famed Dutch masters, York reminds us of the mortality, transience, and vulnerability of all living things.

Visit Poe Park Visitor Center for our new exhibit City Birds by Elana Amity. The exhibit will be on view at the Poe Park Visitor Center on Tuedays through Saturdays from March 4 through March 29. There will be an opening reception with a Q&A session on Saturday, March 11.

About City Birds
Raised in the Bronx, Elana Amity visited Poe Park numerous times. As a young child she roamed in and around the cottage, and as a teenager she and her friends danced while a band played in the gazebo. Edgar Allan Poe’s poem "The Raven" was brought to life by her father who loved reciting poetry. Ironically, Poe completed his final revision of "The Raven" while living on 85 Amity Street, now West Third Street, in New York’s Greenwich Village. Amity’s current work includes numerous paintings and monotypes of birds found in New York City’s parks, sidewalks, and window sills. Her birch bark paintings reflect images and textures found in natural settings. Her illustrated poems include the works of Wallace Steven, Edgar Allan Poe, William Wordsworth, and Wilfred Owen.

Artist Bio
New York City artist, Elana Amity, began her career as a teacher and freelance illustrator. She served on the board of the Society of Illustrators for many years. In 1984 she joined the faculty of LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts where she taught illustration, painting and drawing. In 2010 she opened a studio in Manhattan’s Garment District. Her paintings, drawings and prints capture both fleeting and enduring moments oflife in cities, nature and beyond. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and public spaces at home and abroad.

This exhibit of clay castings by Susan Stair forms portraits in trees used by the Lenape Indians for food and medicine. Conference House Park is home to the largest burial site of the pre-Columbian Lenape tribe in the five boroughs of New York City.

Susan Stair worked with John Kilcullen, Director of Conference House Park and certified arborist, in choosing the trees that were important to the Lenape. A sculptor who fixes her actions in the material, Stair captures the spirit of living trees as she reveals species, age and endurance. Viewers are encouraged to touch her work in the way one would meet a tree.

Lenape Landscape: Trees as Tonic has been extended and runs through Saturday, April 29, 2017 in the Lenape Gallery at Conference House Park Visitor Center. The gallery is open on Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. The gallery is closed on holidays.

Viewers will be encouraged to partake in a walk using a trail map identifying the trees included in the exhibit.

Join Central Park Conservancy guides for an introduction to some of the southern park highlights, including Grand Army Plaza, the pond, Gapstow Bridge, Wollman Rink, Chess & Checkers House, and the Dairy.

The tour route involves moderate inclines and some stairs. The tour starts inside the park at 61st Street and Fifth Avenue. For weather cancellation, ticket and other policies, please review Central Park's Conservancy's policies carefully. Groups of seven or more must schedule a custom tour three weeks in advance at tours@centralparknyc.org.

Join the Central Park Conservancy for a staff-led tour through three gardens in one! From a magnificent wrought-iron gate made in 1894 to a sculptural tribute to The Secret Garden, Central Park Conservancy staff take you on a guided stroll amid thousands of trees, shrubs, bulbs, perennials, and annuals that bloom throughout the year. Learn about Conservatory Garden's history, design, and botanical specimens, from the professionals who care for it. This tour is bound to give visitors a new appreciation for this special space in Central Park

Book Worms is a program for children to share and develop their love for reading. Children will be able to develop and advance their literacy skills through a variety of fun and educational literacy games, activities, and library trips.

This discussion will focus on ways in which soils in urban areas are different from soils in less densely-populated areas. What do we know about NYC soils based on the latest research? What are some of the broader implications of that research for human health, environmental remediation, urban agriculture, and forest restoration?

This conversation is important in an urban context because soil research typically takes place in non-urban areas. Urban soils are under unique pressures due to exposure to pollution and development. Studying urban soils can provide insight into how ecological communities persist and function under these pressures and other disturbances.

Because soil research is often done in non-urban settings, the preexisting data in field can’t be used to make assumptions or answer questions about urban soils. We hope this panel will engender a conversation to identify gaps in research, prioritizing which questions need to be addressed and providing insight for better land management practices.

Moderated by: Novem Auyeung, NYC Parks

Panel Hosted by: Dr. Sean Brady of Rockefeller University's Brady Lab

Panelists:

Zach Charlop-Powers, Rockefeller University

Krista McGuire, Barnard College, Columbia University

Tatiana Morin, Urban Soils Institute

Clara Pregitzer, Natural Areas Conservancy

Troy Hill, Environmental Protection Agency

Rich Shaw, United States Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Services

The Parks Without Borders Discussion Series explores ideas for the next generation of parks and public space and considers opportunities to build greener parks, healthier communities, and more resilient neighborhoods. Events will be held through 2017.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of public art in NYC Parks, the Parks Without Borders Discussion Series is excited to host five prominent art programmers, artists, and advocates in New York City and beyond its borders. Moderated by Jonathan Kuhn, NYC Parks Director of Art & Antiquities and Jennifer Lantzas, Deputy Director for Public Art, the panel will examine opportunities and challenges faced by public art -- past, present, and future. Speakers include Jamie Bennett, Executive Director with Art Place America; Esther Robinson Founder of ArtBuilt Mobile Studios; Kerry McLean, Vice President of Community Development, WHEDco; Ann Shostrom, Founder of First Street Green; Juanli Carrion, Artist

Light refreshments will be served. This event is free, but seating is limited. Please register.

Biographies

Jamie Bennett is the executive director of ArtPlace America, a partnership among 16 foundations, 8 federal agencies, and 6 financial institutions working to position art and culture as a core sector of community planning and development by investing in, researching, and supporting those who lead and execute creative placemaking projects. To date, ArtPlace has invested $96 million in 262 projects in communities of all sizes. Previously, Jamie worked at the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Columbia University, the Agnes Gund Foundation, The Museum of Modern Art, and the New York Philharmonic.

Esther Robinson has worked on behalf of America's artists for more than 20 years as a foundation program officer, television and film producer/director, technology entrepreneur, and arts activist. From 1999-2006, she was Director of Film/Video and Performing Arts for the Creative Capital Foundation. Since 2006, her non-profit ArtHome has provided financial training and asset building programming to artists and organizations nationally. As ArtBuilt co-director, she oversaw the 2015 "Studio in the Park" Residencies, NYC’s first-ever Mobile Studio program (in partnership with NYC Parks). She is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker and producer.

Kerry McLean, Vice President of Community Development at WHEDco, directs community planning, commercial revitalization, and creative placemaking initiatives, and oversaw cultural programming at their Bronx Music Heritage Center. She has more than 15 years of community development experience and, prior to WHEDco, was a Housing Planner under Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión Jr. She is a Coro NY Neighborhood Leadership Program alumnus, and her work has been featured at the American Planning Association, Municipal Arts Society, Americans for the Arts, NYC Department of Health, NYC Department of Small Business Services, and the International Downtown Association. She has an M.A. in International Development from American University and Master’s of Urban Planning from Hunter College.

Ann Shostrom co-founded First Street Green, converting a derelict lot into an open art space serving the Lower East Side. FSG provides murals, sculpture, and cultural programming in First Park, partnering with artists and community groups. Shostrom exhibits her artworks internationally at galleries and museums. She made public art from decommissioned weapons in Albania. Shostrom is represented by Elizabeth Harris Gallery in New York, and is an Associate Professor at Penn State University. She has a BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago, and an MFA from Syracuse University.

Juanli Carrión, born in Yecla, Spain, lives and works in New York. His work has been exhibited internationally including United States, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Portugal, Greece, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Kenya. In 2014, he began his series of geopolitical gardens, Outer Seed Shadow, commissioned by NYC Parks, La Nau of Valencia, and Contemporary Art Center La Conservera. His work is based on the identification of cultural conflicts revealed in the definition of social, political, and economic identity. To develop projects, he engages with specific social groups, investigating their natural, emotional, social, and political landscapes, then articulating aesthetic experiences that reflect questionable ideas of Western reality.

Jonathan Kuhn, a 30-year veteran of NYC Parks, serves as its Director of Art & Antiquities and oversees the placement, display, and care of monuments and permanent and temporary art in the City’s parks. He has curated more than 30 exhibitions on the history of parks in New York, and authored the catalogue, The Outdoor Gallery: 40 Years of Public Art in New York City Parks, and the guide, Historic Houses in New York City Parks. Previously he worked at MoMA, the Guggenheim Museum, the Cooper Hewitt Museum, 55 Mercer Gallery and the NJ State Museum.

Jennifer Lantzas is the Deputy Director of Public Art at NYC Parks. She works with a diverse group of artists, community groups, arts organizations, and government agencies to bring experimental and traditional public art to parks in New York City’s five boroughs. She has managed more than 250 temporary public art installations and organized more than 40 exhibitions for the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park. Jennifer received her Master of Arts in Visual Arts Administration from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from the University of Maryland.

Join the Staten Island Greenbelt Conservancy for a hike or trail run on Wednesday evenings. Pick one! The hike is moderately paced, and the run is faster and more suitable for experienced trail runners. Bring a headlamp along as it is beginning to be dark when we return!

The evening hikes take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and the trail runs take place from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The hike and trail run usually cover approximately five miles. Headlamps are required in every season. Dress for the weather and trail conditions. Bring water and a snack if you think you'll need it. No reservation is required.

Join us to create your own masterpiece inspired by the scenery in nature. Our "Art Inspired By" series will include an overview of the featured artist, theme, or technique, followed by a hands-on workshop.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play wheelchair basketball and know the rules inside and out? Well, here's your chance to learn from the best! Come out and scrimmage against other wheelchair basketball players from the NYC area. It's guaranteed to be tons of fun and you'll come back every week for more action!

Come to Fort Tryon Park and try something new. Join us on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings for one hour of walking, stretching, and strengthening exercises.

For a breath of fresh air, take your workouts outdoors. Parks are becoming a logical alternative environment for those who want to add variety to their workouts, or who just don't like the gym. And, it's an affordable way to increase physical activity opportunities, because there's nothing special to build.

Exercise with a view, in natural sunlight, with green scenery all around bestows health benefits that can’t be found indoors. Scientific studies have shown that the pleasure of being outdoors for example gives your brain, psyche, and immune system an extra boost.

All of our fitness programs are free, led by trained professionals, and suitable for all levels. Wear comfortable clothing and bring water. Please check back for rain and weather/air advisory cancels.

Please note: Fitness programs are canceled if the weather is lower than 20 degrees and when there are icy conditions. Saturday morning walks begin at 8:30 a.m.

With a hint of dark humor, Zane York transforms traditional floral still lives and familiar scenes into unexpected compositions in Nature Morte. Clusters of insects morph into floral arrangements, and cats in the clutches of pigeons rise to the heavens. Executed in the style and skill of famed Dutch masters, York reminds us of the mortality, transience, and vulnerability of all living things.

Visit Poe Park Visitor Center for our new exhibit City Birds by Elana Amity. The exhibit will be on view at the Poe Park Visitor Center on Tuedays through Saturdays from March 4 through March 29. There will be an opening reception with a Q&A session on Saturday, March 11.

About City Birds
Raised in the Bronx, Elana Amity visited Poe Park numerous times. As a young child she roamed in and around the cottage, and as a teenager she and her friends danced while a band played in the gazebo. Edgar Allan Poe’s poem "The Raven" was brought to life by her father who loved reciting poetry. Ironically, Poe completed his final revision of "The Raven" while living on 85 Amity Street, now West Third Street, in New York’s Greenwich Village. Amity’s current work includes numerous paintings and monotypes of birds found in New York City’s parks, sidewalks, and window sills. Her birch bark paintings reflect images and textures found in natural settings. Her illustrated poems include the works of Wallace Steven, Edgar Allan Poe, William Wordsworth, and Wilfred Owen.

Artist Bio
New York City artist, Elana Amity, began her career as a teacher and freelance illustrator. She served on the board of the Society of Illustrators for many years. In 1984 she joined the faculty of LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts where she taught illustration, painting and drawing. In 2010 she opened a studio in Manhattan’s Garment District. Her paintings, drawings and prints capture both fleeting and enduring moments oflife in cities, nature and beyond. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and public spaces at home and abroad.

This exhibit of clay castings by Susan Stair forms portraits in trees used by the Lenape Indians for food and medicine. Conference House Park is home to the largest burial site of the pre-Columbian Lenape tribe in the five boroughs of New York City.

Susan Stair worked with John Kilcullen, Director of Conference House Park and certified arborist, in choosing the trees that were important to the Lenape. A sculptor who fixes her actions in the material, Stair captures the spirit of living trees as she reveals species, age and endurance. Viewers are encouraged to touch her work in the way one would meet a tree.

Lenape Landscape: Trees as Tonic has been extended and runs through Saturday, April 29, 2017 in the Lenape Gallery at Conference House Park Visitor Center. The gallery is open on Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. The gallery is closed on holidays.

Viewers will be encouraged to partake in a walk using a trail map identifying the trees included in the exhibit.

The Reading Room invites student poets and poetry lovers to New York City's 15th Annual Poem in Your Pocket Day. This day-long celebration of poetry kicks off the Reading Room's 2017 literary series and is free and open to the public.

Students from NYC's elementary, intermediate, and high schools will have the opportunity to read their latest poems during the open mic forum. If you are 18 or under, and a student at a NYC school, you may register for our Poem In Your Pocket Open Mic.

Emcee: Daniel Kitrosser

NYC Youth Poet Laureate: Sharon Lin

DJ: Flip Bundlez

Produced in cooperation with the New York Department of Cultural Affairs, the Department of Education, NYC Votes, UrbanWordNYC, and the Office of the Mayor.

Did you know that the north end of Central Park has a rich history that includes the British having been stationed here during the American Revolution, and American troops stationed there during the War of 1812? Recent archaeological and historical investigations in the area have revealed even more information about how the "Fort Landscape" was used in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, before this area was part of Central Park. This season, join our guides and learn the history of this part of the park, get insight into the studies in the area, and appreciate the recent restorations undertaken by the Conservancy.

Highlights of this tour include McGowan's Pass, Fort Clinton, Nutter's Battery, and the Harlem Meer.

The tour route involves many hills and stairs, and some uneven terrain. The tour starts at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (inside the park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues), and ends near the park perimeter at 106th Street and Fifth Avenue.

This art workshop engages special needs adults through art for self expression. Due to limited space, please call to schedule your group's visit. Due to large number of requests, groups are scheduled for every two weeks.

Schedule

July: Paper Beads - Make a bracelet out of paper beads

August: Cardboard Coasters-Create a work of art on cardboard coaster

September: Painted Rocks - Paint a small rock or stone using your imagination for inspiration. Please bring your own clean stones or small rocks to paint. We do not provide the rocks or stones.

Join us for a tour of The Battery, a 25-acre park at the tip of Manhattan.

Learn about the park's rich history, many important landmarks and monuments, the Seaglass Carousel, 134,000 square feet of beautiful perennial gardens designed by renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, and so much more!

Tours of The Battery take place every Thursday at 1:00 p.m. and last about an hour. Please arrive 10 minutes early as the tour will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m.

Book Worms is a program for children to share and develop their love for reading. Children will be able to develop and advance their literacy skills through a variety of fun and educational literacy games, activities, and library trips.

April is poetry month! On Put A Poem in Your Pocket Day, bring a poem to share with us! If you do not have a poem, one will be provided. Poems may be original, classic or contemporary, funny, cute, or serious.

Poems must be family-friendly; appropriate for all ages. This program is suitable for ages six to adult.

Struggling with aphids, whiteflies, and other pests in your garden? Join us for an overview of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), focusing on simple, organic methods for dealing with pests in your garden.

Discover the surprising diversity of birds that call Bryant Park home during migratory season with guided tours. Located in the heart of midtown, Bryant Park is a hotspot for avian visitors and birders alike. Past sightings include warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, and even a Chuck-will's-widow!

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play wheelchair basketball and know the rules inside and out? Well, here's your chance to learn from the best!

Come out and scrimmage against other wheelchair basketball players from the NYC area. With the help of the wheelchair basketball team, it's guaranteed to be tons of fun and you'll come back every week for more action!

It’s a party – with a painting! Come sip wine and learn professional painting techniques made easy. With your best pals or your sweetheart by your side, you’re bound to have a blast with wine expert Deb McCole and ArtLab painting instructors.

Each class covers a different subject matter and wine selection, and all are held in Snug Harbor’s Winter Garden at Building P, overlooking the inspiring Richmond County Savings Foundation Tuscan Garden.

Open Run is a community-based, volunteer-led running initiative bringing free weekly runs and walks to local neighborhood parks, across all five boroughs of NYC. All runs are directed by volunteers and are free to all participants. The finish line is open until the last person is done.

Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the run and to leave their valuables at home – bag check is not provided. No need to do anything before the run, just show up. Open to all ages, experience levels, walkers, strollers, dogs: All are welcome!

Visit Poe Park Visitor Center for our new exhibit City Birds by Elana Amity. The exhibit will be on view at the Poe Park Visitor Center on Tuedays through Saturdays from March 4 through March 29. There will be an opening reception with a Q&A session on Saturday, March 11.

About City Birds
Raised in the Bronx, Elana Amity visited Poe Park numerous times. As a young child she roamed in and around the cottage, and as a teenager she and her friends danced while a band played in the gazebo. Edgar Allan Poe’s poem "The Raven" was brought to life by her father who loved reciting poetry. Ironically, Poe completed his final revision of "The Raven" while living on 85 Amity Street, now West Third Street, in New York’s Greenwich Village. Amity’s current work includes numerous paintings and monotypes of birds found in New York City’s parks, sidewalks, and window sills. Her birch bark paintings reflect images and textures found in natural settings. Her illustrated poems include the works of Wallace Steven, Edgar Allan Poe, William Wordsworth, and Wilfred Owen.

Artist Bio
New York City artist, Elana Amity, began her career as a teacher and freelance illustrator. She served on the board of the Society of Illustrators for many years. In 1984 she joined the faculty of LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts where she taught illustration, painting and drawing. In 2010 she opened a studio in Manhattan’s Garment District. Her paintings, drawings and prints capture both fleeting and enduring moments oflife in cities, nature and beyond. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and public spaces at home and abroad.

This exhibit of clay castings by Susan Stair forms portraits in trees used by the Lenape Indians for food and medicine. Conference House Park is home to the largest burial site of the pre-Columbian Lenape tribe in the five boroughs of New York City.

Susan Stair worked with John Kilcullen, Director of Conference House Park and certified arborist, in choosing the trees that were important to the Lenape. A sculptor who fixes her actions in the material, Stair captures the spirit of living trees as she reveals species, age and endurance. Viewers are encouraged to touch her work in the way one would meet a tree.

Lenape Landscape: Trees as Tonic has been extended and runs through Saturday, April 29, 2017 in the Lenape Gallery at Conference House Park Visitor Center. The gallery is open on Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. The gallery is closed on holidays.

Viewers will be encouraged to partake in a walk using a trail map identifying the trees included in the exhibit.

Take our signature tour, and let Central Park Conservancy guides give you an insider's look at some of the most iconic features of the world's greatest urban park. Learn how rocky, swampy land was built into the living work of art that is Central Park today. Highlights of this tour include: the Dairy, Sheep Meadow, Cherry Hill, the Lake, Bow Bridge, Bethesda Terrace, The Mall, and Literary Walk.

The tour route involves a few stairs. The tour starts and ends at the Dairy Visitor Center (mid-Park at 65th Street).

Wave Hill’s landscape includes magnificent old trees, rare species, and native beauties. Wander through the gardens on this special walk with Director of Horticulture Louis Bauer to see some of his favorites from the living collection.

Book Worms is a program for children to share and develop their love for reading. Children will be able to develop and advance their literacy skills through a variety of fun and educational literacy games, activities, and library trips.

Join NYC Parks and the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment for a free film.

The Turtles team up with April O'Neil and vigilante Casey Jones to save New York City from the evil Shredder, fearsome new mutants Bebop and Rocksteady and an extraterrestrial invasion led by Krang.

Know Before You Go
You should arrive before 7:00 p.m. to get your spot. Feel free to bring a blanket to sit on; there will be a limited supply of chairs available. Bottled water is OK, but no glass. Reservations are not taken; space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. All are welcome!

Join NYC Parks and the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment for a free film.

Amnesiac blue tang Dory searches for her long-lost parents with the help of pals Nemo and Marlin. She eventually heads for California and the Monterey Marine Life Institute, evading predators along the way as she hopes to find a place she can call home.

Know Before You Go
You should arrive before 7:00 p.m. to get your spot. Feel free to bring a blanket to sit on; there will be a limited supply of chairs available. Bottled water is OK, but no glass. Reservations are not taken; space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. All are welcome!

Calling all park lovers! This spring, the New York Junior League's Playground Improvement Project committee ("PIP") invites you to join them in rolling up your sleeves to help revitalize Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem.

Throughout five weekends in April and May PIP committee members, New York Junior League volunteers, and community volunteers will spend a day in the park gardening, landscaping, painting, and completing other tasks to help spruce up this highly used space. PIP will provide you with breakfast, lunch, and a t-shirt.

All volunteer days are rain or shine.

Registration
All participants (ages 16 and older) must register in advance. Volunteers can sign up nyjl.org/playground Please RSVP if you are interested in participating in one or more park days (April 22, 23, 29, 30 and May 6, 7, 13, 20, 21). Registration closes when capacity is reached or the Wednesday prior to that weekend's park days.

About the New York Junior League Playground Improvement Project
For more than 25 years, the Playground Improvement Project (PIP) has been a New York Junior League signature community project. Our volunteers create safe, beautiful, well-organized, and educational play spaces for children and other members of the New York City community. PIP focuses on sites and parks that need major renovation and have the greatest impact on the surrounding community. Weekend cleanup days include landscaping and repairing the parks. We work with over 700 volunteers each season to help improve the park and make a positive impact on the community. Please reach out to playground@nyjl.org with any questions or if you are interested in making a donation to this cause.

For a breath of fresh air, take your workouts outdoors. Parks are becoming a logical alternative environment for those who want to add variety to their work outs, or who just don't like the gym. And, it's an affordable way to increase physical activity opportunities, because there's nothing special to build.

Come to Fort Tryon Park and try something new. Join us on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings for one hour of walking, stretching, and strengthening exercises.

All of our fitness programs are free, led by trained professionals, and suitable for all levels. Wear comfortable clothing and bring water.

Exercising with a view, in natural sunlight, with green scenery all around bestow health benefits that can’t be found indoors. Scientific studies have shown that the pleasure of being outdoors gives your brain, psyche, and immune system an extra boost.

Please note: Fitness programs are canceled if the weather is lower than 20 degrees and when there are icy conditions. Please check back for rain and weather/air advisory cancels.

Registration is now open! Join us in supporting the Greenbelt Conservancy.

During the High Rock Challenge, two-member teams run together along Greenbelt trails competing in mystery events and physical obstacles, which are located throughout the approximately 10K course. Events are cleverly designed and encourage teamwork as well as physical and mental stamina. Events are not revealed until race day when you’re on the course. The race is held in memory of NYPD Officer John Kelly.

Volunteer at the High Rock Challenge
Volunteers are needed to assist with refreshments and directing runners with challenges. Multiple locations and start times are available for 2017. To volunteer for any of our events you must be age 14 and older or accompanied with an adult if you're younger than 14. If you are interested in volunteering, please call (718) 667-2165, ext. 311, or email Jeanne.Paliswiat@parks.nyc.gov.

Unlike most other sports, rowing can be learned at any age and fitness level! Taking an introductory class with Row New York is a great way to get fit, have fun, and enjoy the beauty of the river against the backdrop of the city. It’s a truly unique experience! Learn to Row classes take place in the spring, summer, and fall at the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse on the Harlem River in Northern Manhattan.

All classes take place on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

One day program

Learn basics of sweep rowing

Develop working knowledge of the sport including vocabulary and equipment

Learn proper rowing technique on land and on the water

Advance to water on a stable rowing barge to develop on-water technique

This session prepares participants for our Level 2 course, in which advanced rowing skills are acquired on the water.

For more information about Learn to Row, please visit Row New York's Q&A page.

Join Eva Neves, artist and educator, for a workshop on the birds and ecology of the four-acre Cabrini Woods! This small woodland hosts a rich diversity of tree and plant species that provide food and shelter for over 20 bird species! We will enjoy a unique tree canopy-level view of the woods and learn fun facts about migrating birds through art, acting, and other hands-on activities.

Visit Poe Park Visitor Center for our new exhibit City Birds by Elana Amity. The exhibit will be on view at the Poe Park Visitor Center on Tuedays through Saturdays from March 4 through March 29. There will be an opening reception with a Q&A session on Saturday, March 11.

About City Birds
Raised in the Bronx, Elana Amity visited Poe Park numerous times. As a young child she roamed in and around the cottage, and as a teenager she and her friends danced while a band played in the gazebo. Edgar Allan Poe’s poem "The Raven" was brought to life by her father who loved reciting poetry. Ironically, Poe completed his final revision of "The Raven" while living on 85 Amity Street, now West Third Street, in New York’s Greenwich Village. Amity’s current work includes numerous paintings and monotypes of birds found in New York City’s parks, sidewalks, and window sills. Her birch bark paintings reflect images and textures found in natural settings. Her illustrated poems include the works of Wallace Steven, Edgar Allan Poe, William Wordsworth, and Wilfred Owen.

Artist Bio
New York City artist, Elana Amity, began her career as a teacher and freelance illustrator. She served on the board of the Society of Illustrators for many years. In 1984 she joined the faculty of LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts where she taught illustration, painting and drawing. In 2010 she opened a studio in Manhattan’s Garment District. Her paintings, drawings and prints capture both fleeting and enduring moments oflife in cities, nature and beyond. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and public spaces at home and abroad.

For only one day every year, the Queens Greenhouse opens its doors to give New Yorkers a sneak peek inside. Seize this rare opportunity to learn about the diverse array of plants growing in city parks.

Nestled among towering oak trees in Forest Park, the Queens Greenhouse and Nursery has served Parks for the past hundred years. Every year the greenhouse grows around 200,000 herbaceous plants (annuals and perennials) from seeds, plugs, liners, bare-root plants, and cuttings. Gardeners use these plants beautify the parks, playgrounds, beaches, and pools throughout Queens and Brooklyn.

Gardeners will provide visitors with information on the different species, how to care for them, and where to go to see them throughout the borough.

No reservations are needed; however Parks staff may limit the number of visitors allowed in each house at one time.

This It's My Park season, join Friends of Colonel Young Park for Spring Cleaning 2017! Volunteers will spruce up and clean playground equipment at Col. Young Playground. We look forward to cleaning up the playground with you!

Open Run is a community-based, volunteer-led running initiative bringing free weekly runs and walks to local neighborhood parks, across all five boroughs of NYC. All runs are directed by volunteers and are free to all participants. The finish line is open until the last person is done. The courses vary based on the park, but the courses are between 2.5 and three miles long.

Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the run and to leave their valuables at home—bag check is not provided. No need to do anything before the run, just show up. Open to all ages, experience levels, walkers, strollers, dogs: All are welcome!

Open Run is a community-based, volunteer-led running initiative bringing free weekly runs and walks to local neighborhood parks, across all five boroughs of NYC. All runs are directed by volunteers and are free to all participants. The finish line is open until the last person is done. The courses vary based on the park, but the courses are between 2.5 and 3 miles long.

Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the run and to leave their valuables at home – bag check is not provided. No need to do anything before the run, just show up. Open to all ages, experience levels, walkers, strollers, dogs: All are welcome!

Open Run is a community-based, volunteer-led running initiative bringing free weekly runs and walks to local neighborhood parks, across all five boroughs of NYC. All runs are directed by volunteers and are free to all participants. The finish line is open until the last person is done. The courses vary based on the park, but the courses are between 2.5 and 3 miles long.

Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the run and to leave their valuables at home – bag check is not provided. No need to do anything before the run, just show up. Open to all ages, experience levels, walkers, strollers, dogs: All are welcome!

Open Run is a community-based, volunteer-led running initiative bringing free weekly runs and walks to local neighborhood parks, across all five boroughs of NYC. All runs are directed by volunteers and are free to all participants. The finish line is open until the last person is done. The courses vary based on the park, but the courses are between 2.5 and 3 miles long.

Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the run and to leave their valuables at home – bag check is not provided. No need to do anything before the run, just show up. Open to all ages, experience levels, walkers, strollers, dogs: All are welcome!

The Green Team provides essential horticultural care to Brooklyn Bridge Park, including planting, mulching, and removing invasive plants. The Green Team is a wonderful opportunity to learn about gardening, enjoying nature, and making the park look its best.

All volunteers must fill out a waiver onsite and submit it before any activity begins. Volunteers 18 years old or younger should submit their waiver signed by a parent or guardian; volunteers 16 years old or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No experience necessary.

Sakura Matsuri, the annual cherry blossom festival at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, offers over 60 events and performances that celebrate traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. The festival marks the end of hanami, the Japanese cultural tradition of enjoying each moment of the cherry blossom season.

With wax crayons and paper in hand, visit some of Wave Hill’s treasured trees and have a tactile experience through observation, touch, and simple, but rich, bark rubbings. Using these rubbings, work with burlap, cheesecloth, strips of leather, craft paper and yarn to create a collection of rich textures and bark-inspired designs.

Bring your family for a guided walk and discover why Central Park is a sanctuary for plants, animals, and humans alike. Learn about the architecture, landscapes, and ecosystems of the park through hands-on exploration using Discovery Kits—rugged backpacks filled with kid-friendly binoculars, field guides, and hand lenses.

Discovery Walks for Families take place on Saturdays and on select school holidays from April 1 through June 24 at various locations throughout the park.

This It's My Park season, join Red Hook Conservancy for Spring Cleaning 2017! Volunteers will be cleaning play equipment near Red Hook Recreation Area. We look forward to cleaning up the park with you!